Grafton High pitcher Evan Sperling, a University of Virginia baseball recruit, helped the Evoshield Canes win the Under 17 wood bat world championships this past weekend. The tournament, held in Georgia, is among the top travel ball events and a top draw for professional baseball scouts.

The Canes won the title against a field of 304 teams, outscoring the opposition 77-18. Sperling, who helped Grafton reach the Group 4A state semifinals this past spring, pitched in the championship game and is one of the players featured in a story about the tournament that appeared on the Baseball America website.

Chase Pinder, a Poquoson star now enrolled at Clemson, helped the Canes win two national titles a year ago - the world series and Jupiter - but this is the Canes first ring in the wood bat championships.